[WVNan]

Hi Kathy, Tullahoma was near where my grandparents lived when I was a child. There was an Army training base there named Camp Forest. It was also a prison camp for foreign prisoners. I recall vividly riding past the camp for what seemed like miles and seeing all the soldiers, jeeps, tanks, and aircraft. It was a wonder to me.

My brother who spent the summer at our grandparents in 1942 was playing in the woods on my grandfather's farm when he encountered soldiers, who for some reason were training there. He took water to them. He was the big hero with his friends because he had helped our brave soldiers during the big war.

I also remember the base when the war was over. It became a dumping place for all the used up tanks,airplanes, and other war scrap that was left. It was miles of skeletons of equipment and planes. I thought it was sad to throw away all those good planes. Eventually the hundreds of acres that had been the training base was nothing but pasture. Then they built Arnold, but not in the same spot.

Ah memories.....I can still see those scenes so clearly and feel the wonder that the little girl experienced at the awesomeness of it all.

Soldiers at Camp Forest 1942.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, WVNan...so glad you stopped in and shared your memories. Very interesting.

That is so cool about your brother being a hero for sharing water with the soldiers. Times have changed, and not necessarily for the better.